Impulse-type telescoping antenna



W. M. GUINN IMPULSE-TYPE TELESCOPING ANTENNA Dec. 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 29 1963 V INVENTOR AU k ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 19, 1967 w. M. GUlNN 3,359,559

IMPULSE TYPE TELESCOPI NG ANTENNA Filed Nov. 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 COMMAND SWITCH W 0 v C 5| 54 MASTER 49- MAGNETIC 0 SW'TCH H] CLUTCH PAWL RELAY BRAKESHOE 5 RELAY W -MIMI? I NVENTOR.

I ul (an ATT RNEYS.

United States Patent 3,359 559 IMPULSE-TYPE TELESCOPING ANTENNA William M. Guinn, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Avco Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 326,660 11 Claims. (Cl. 343-901) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosed apparatus includes a telescoping antenna. The various sections of the antenna are projected into an extended position by a compressible coil spring and retracted by means of an overpowering spiral spring. The spiral spring, which is energized by an electric motor, serves to energize the coil spring during antenna retraction.

The present invention relates to impulse-type telescoping devices, and particularly to telescoping antennas which may be rapidly extended and retracted by triggered means.

A broad object of the invention is to provide a telescoping device, the sections of which may be extended or retracted at high speeds in response to either manual or automatic control. I

A specific object of the invention is to provide a vehicular antenna which may be rapidly retracted to prevent damage to the antenna when the vehicle encounters overhead obstructions, and rapidly re-erected to minimize loss of signal intelligence.

A further object is to provide an antenna of the type described which may be quickly mounted on or demounted from the frame of a vehicle.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in cross section, of a vehicular antenna in accordance with the invention, this view showing the antenna in its retracted state;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1, showing in detail the bases of the antenna sections and their relation to each other in the retracted state;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the means by which the sections of the antenna are locked together in the erected state, FIG. 3 being a perspective view, partially cut away, of the spring-fingered collar secured to the upper extremity of an antenna section, and FIG. 4 being an elevational view showing how the base of the section of next smaller diameter mates with this collar;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the erected antenna, with the individual antenna sections partially broken away;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the antenna mechanism housed within the base block of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view looking toward the left side of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 10 is a circuit schematic showing the electrical components for the erection and retraction of the antenna.

The invention described visualizes an antenna comprising fonr tubular telescoping sections, the antenna having a length of approximately twelve feet in the erected state and slightly less than four feet when retracted.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the physical construction ice of the telescoped sections and their relation to each other will first be described in detail.

The tubular sections 10-13 are preferably fabricated of fiberglass and conductively coated to function as the radiator element. The innermost section 10 may or may not be solid or closed at its upper end, as the particular application indicates. The outer or largest diameter section 13 is securely fastened to a soft iron block 14 forming a base for the antenna. Located within the outer tubular section 13 is a helical spring 15 compressed between the upper surface of base block 14 and the base 16 of tubular section 12 adjacent section 13. Spring 15 is preferably of beryllium copper composition, for both a non-magnetic long life spring element and a low resistance electrical conductor.

In the retracted state illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring 15 is maximally compressed, and the inner sections 10 and 11 are resting loosely Within section 12. A hold-down latch 17 restrains the base 16 of section 12, and hence the spring 15. When the hold-down latch 17 is triggered to release the base 16, the spring 15 applies a sudden impulse to the three inner sections 10, 11, 12, and they are impelled upwardly until captured by locking devices incorporated in the mating ends of the sections. It might be said that the antenna is shot erected. Preferably the spring rises in contact with the base of section 12 to its full extent, although a shorter spring would suffice for the motive power in most cases.

The upper end of each section, except the innermost section 10, is provided with a split collar 18 having annularly spaced spring fingers 21 formed with an annular depression 20 (FIG. 3). This collar, secured directly to the upper end of the section, is coated with a conducting material so that the mated sections serve as a continuous electrical radiator. The bases of the intermediate sections 11 and 12 are formed with a slightly thickened rim portionhaving shoulders 19a and 1%, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. While the base of section 10 is here shown as closed, it might alternatively be open-ended and provided with a shoulder 1% as are the other movable sections of the antenna.

15 being under minimum tension. This figure also illusvtrates how the antenna may be readily mounted or deniounted, the base 14 of the antenna being constructed for rapid insertion in or withdrawal from a magnetic socket 22 provided on the frame 23 of the vehicle, the socket maintaining the antenna in its mounted position. Electrical leads 24 project through the base of socket .22, an insulating disk 25, and the vehicle frame 23 to provide circuit connections for the various elements located within block 14 to electrical components located within a housing 26 beneath the frame of the vehicle (FIG. 1). A conductor 27 leads to a source of power supply (not shown).

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a line 28 extends from the base 29 of the innermost tubular section 10 to a reel 30 on which line 28 is wound. Retracting the antenna sections with minimum down time is accomplished by reeling in line 28 on the reel 30 with a force sufficient to overcome the locking action of the spring-fingered collars mating the sections and to compress spring 15. That is to say, as the base 29 of 9 a section 10 is pulled downwardly, the shoulder 19a of its rim portion strikes the shoulder 19b of section 11 immediately beneath it, breaking its connection with the spring-fingered collar of section 12. The rim portion of section 11, driven by the downward force of base 29, in turn strikes the rim portion at the base of section 12, breaking its connection with the collar 18 of section 13 and impelling section 12 downwardly with sufficient force to compress spring 15, spring 15 inherently acting as a shock absorber.

As seen in FIG. 2, the shoulder 19a of section 12 is beveled at 190 to complement the sloping face portion of latch 17. Latch 17 is spring-biased inwardly so that, in its normal position (i.e., when it is not held in a vertical position by engagement with base 16), it is inclined slightly to the right of the position shown in FIG. 2.

When the downwardly propelled sections approach the fully retracted state, the portion 19c of base 16 slides over the sloping face portion of latch 17, forcing the latch outwardly (to the left, FIG. 2) until base 16 slips beneath the latch, whereupon the spring bias of latch 17 forces it inwardly to capture and restrain base 16 and hence maintain spring 15 under maximum compression until an up command is given.

Each step of the sequence just described takes place in a fraction of a second, the entire down time for the particular antenna shown being on the order of milli seconds.

The apparatus for driving the reel 30 to retract the antenna sections is shown in FIGS. 6-9. Referring first to FIG. 6, there is shown an electric motor 31 for driving a shaft 32. One end of shaft 32 is provided with a ratchet 33 which rides freely over a stationary pawl 34 in one direction (clockwise, as illustrated in FIG. 7) but is restrained by pawl 34 from turning in the opposite direction.

At the opposite end of shaft 32 is mounted a cylinder 35 housing a spiral spring 36, one end of which is fixed to shaft 30 and the other end of which is connected to the cylinder housing 35 (as indicated at 3-7 and 38, respectively, FIG. 9). Except when a command is given to retract the antenna sections, cylinder 35 is held stationary by a pawl 39 engaging a ratchet 40 fixed on the outer periphery of cylinder 35. When the motor 31 is energized, shaft 32 turns in a clockwise direction (FIGS. 7 and 8), tightening spring 36, one end of which is attached thereto, to the limit of its tension, whereupon motor 31 stalls and is de-energiz'ed. Pawl 34 prevents counterclockwise rotation of shaft 32, pawl 39 prevents clockwise rotation of cylinder 35, and spring 36 remains at maximum tension until the down command is given.

In FIG. 9, which is a view looking toward the left side of FIG. 6 and therefore opposite in a rotational sense to FIGS. 7 and 8, there are shown: a motor mounting plate 41 (see also FIGS. 6 and 8'); the spiral spring 36; the shaft 32 to which one end of spring 36 is attached at 37, and the cylinder 35 to which the other end of the spring is attached at 38; the ratchet 40 and the pawl 39, together with a relay 42 for withdrawing pawl 39 when the down command is given.

As seen in FIG. 6-, the cylinder 35 is connected to, or integral with, a hollow cylindrical housing 43 into which one end of motor 31 projects, the opposite end of housing 43 terminating in the driving element 44 of a magnetic clutch, the driven element 46 of which is positioned on the adjacent end of cylinder 30. When a down command is given and pawl 39 is withdrawn, permitting cylinder 35 to spin in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 9) in response to the force of spring 36, driving clutch element 44 is simultaneously energized through brusht'ype slip rings 45, and magnetically clutches the clutch element 46, driving reel 30 counterclockwise to rewind line 28. V

The reference numeral 47 in FIG. 6 designates a brake-shoe provided to prevent undesired rotation or oscillation of reel 30. That is to say, when travel of the sections in either direction is abruptly terminated, either by mating of the sections as they are propelled upwardly or by the engagement of latch 17 with base 16 of section 12 when they are retracted, further rotation of reel 30 is instantaneously stopped by brake-shoe 47 to forestall backlash of the line 28.

The control circuit for the antenna is shown diagrarm matically in FIG. 10. The circuit includes a battery 48, or other convention source, connected through a master control switch 49 to a command switch 51 having a contact blade 50, an up contact 52, a neutral position contact 53, and a down contact 54. The switch 51 is a momentary switch, making connections at contacts 54 and 52 for very short predetermined periods of time.

The up contact 52 is connected to ground through an antenna latch relay 55 which serves when energized to withdraw the spring-biased latch 17, and a brake-shoe relay 56 which when energized serves to operate the brake shoe 47.

The down contact 54 is connected to ground through winding 59 of the magnetic clutch element 44, relay 42 of pawl 39, and brake-shoe relay 56.

The battery 43 is also connected through a position switch 58 and lead 60 across the winding 64 of motor 31 and a Ledex-type switch 63- having four circumferentiallyspaced contacts 67. on its rotor. The operating relay 61 for the switch 63 is connected across the motor winding 64. The Ledex-type switch is such that the rotor rotates 45 degrees each time a current of predetermined magnitude flows through the relay winding 61. The position switch 58 is coupled to the latch 17 and is closed only when latch 17 engages the antenna section 12.

A cycle of operation is now described.

Let it be assumed that the antenna is in its retracted condition with master switch 49 closed.

When the up command is given, blade 50 of command switch 51 moves from the neutral position contact 53 to contact 52, momentarily closing the circuit to energize antenna latch relay 55 and brake-shoe relay S6. Relay 55 pulls latch 17 outwardly, releasing the base 16 of section 12 and permitting all of the sections with the exception of section 13 to be propelled upwardly by the motive force of compression spring 15. Simultaneously relay 56 withdraws the normally engaged brake-shoe 47, so that reel 30 rotates freely as line 28 unwinds.

When the blade 50 of momentary switch 51 returns to neutral position contact 53, relays 55 and 56 are deenergized, brake-shoe 47 stops rotation of reel 30, and latch 17 assumes its inwardly inclined position.

All of the elements remain in the positions just described so long as the antenna is extended. The down command is given by moving blade 50 of command switch 51 to contact 54, whereupon relays 59, 42, and 56 are energized. Relay 59 activates the magnetic clutch between clutch driving element 44 and driven element 46, relay 42 withdraws pawl 39 from ratchet 40, and relay 56 withdraws the brake-shoe 47 from reel 30, whereupon the antenna sections are propelled downwardly until captured and restrained by latch 17. Immediately thereafter blade '50 of command switch returns to neutral position 53, and relays 59, 42, and 56 are de-energized. Since latch 17 is again engaging antenna section 12, position switch 58 closes.

Closing of position switch 58 completes the circuit between the battery and a relay winding 61 (FIG. 10). Current flowing through relay winding 61 causes the rotary contacts 62 of the Ledex-type switch 63 to rotate through 45 degrees, bridging the spaced contacts of the switch 63. Relay 61 being a high-resistance, low-current winding, and motor coil 64 a low-resistance, high-current winding, current now flows through motor coil 64, starting the motor. Motor 31 continues to run until the load of spring 36 causes it to stall. When the motor stalls, current again builds up in relay winding 61 and causes the rotary contacts 62 of switch 63 to rotate through another 45 degrees, opening the circuit to motor winding 64. The antenna has now completed a full cycle of operation.

While a medium-length antenna comprising four sections and having a height of approximately twelve feet has been selected to describe the principles of the invention, it will of course be understood that additional sections and also sections of somewhat greater length might be employed, the only factor limiting the length of the extended antenna being the combined weight of the sections Working against the load .of the spring 15. It is Within the scope of the invention to provide an extended antenna of fifty feet or more in height. In the illustrative twelvefoot antenna herein described, a maximum section diameter of one and one-fourth inches would provide sufiicient strength for reliable operation.

Triggering of the erection and retraction operations may be either manual or automatic. In simple applications, control by the vehicle operator is practicable, after the manner of making turn-indication signals. In applications where this would not be practicable-say, under the rigors of modern tactical serviceobstruction sensors may be incorporated in the system to provide completely automatic operation.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to a vehicular antenna, it will be obvious that the principles may be employed in any environment where rapid extension and retraction of a telescoping device is desirable. For example, the invention would have utility as applied to periscopes, flag standards, and similar extensions on moving vehicles which would be endangered when obstructions are encountered.

While there has been shown and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obivous to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the means for propelling the sections upwardly is here shown as a compression spring, but it is within the scope of the invent-ion to employ alternatives such as hydraulic or pneumatic pressure as the source of motive power. Further, the latch herein shown as located adjacent the outer wall of the section of largest diameter and as holding down the base of the section of next larger diameter, might alternatively be located inwardly of the spring 15 and so oriented as to engage the base of the section of smallest diameter.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicular radio antenna, the combination of:

a base;

a first tubular section rigidly secured to said base;

a plurality of tubular sections of successively smaller diameters nested within said first tubular section and axially movable with respect thereto;

a first source of motive power for propelling all of said movable sections upwardly;

means for releasably locking the lower end of each movable section with the upper end of the section of next larger diameter when the sections are propelled upwardly;

and a second source of motive power for disengaging the mated ends of said sections and propelling said movable sections downwardly.

2. A vehicular radio antenna in accordance with claim 1 in which said base is comprised of magnetic material, and a fixedly-mounted magnetic socket for receiving and supporting said base.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which the first source of motive power comprises a compression spring located concentrically within the first tubular section.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which the means for releasably locking the lower end of each movable section with the upper end of the section of next larger diameter comprises a flange on the lower end of each movable section and a spring-fingered collar on the upper end of the section of next larger diameter.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which the second source of motive power is a wound spiral spring.

6. In a telescoping antenna including a base, a first tubular section secured to said base, and a plurality of tubular sections of successively smaller diameters telescoped within said first tubular section and axially movable with respect thereto, means for high-speed propulsion of said movable sections outwardly into an extended position and inwardly into a retracted position, said means comprising:

a compression spring located concentrically Within said first tubular section and axially between said base and the inward end of the section of next smaller diameter;

means for latching said movable sections to maintain said spring under compression;

means for releasing said latch to release the motive force of said spring to propel said movable sections outwardly;

means for releasably locking the inward end of each section with the outward end of the section of next larger diameter to arrest the travel of said movable sections when they are propelled outwardly;

a reel;

a line wound on said reel and connected to the section having the smallest diameter, said reel rotating freely in one direction as said movable sections are propelled outwardly;

means for rotating the reel in the opposite direction to rewind the line;

and means on the inward end of each movable section for engaging the inward end of the section of next larger diameter;

whereby, as the reel is rotated in the opposite direction to rewind the line, the section of smallest diameter is driven inwardly with a force sufiicient successively to release the locked ends of the sections, recompress said spring, and again latch said sections.

7. The invention as defined in claim 4 and means for recharging said second source.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for recharging said second source comprises a motor coupled to said shaft, said motor being energizable for rotating said shaft in said one direction.

9. A telescoping antenna comprising:

a plurality of nested tubular antenna sections of decreasing diameters;

a source of motive power for longitudinally propelling said sections outwardly;

means for releasably locking one end of each propelled section with the opposite end of the section having the next larger diameter as the sections are propelled outwardly, whereby said sections are propelled into and maintained in an extended position;

and means for retracting said propelled sections, said means comprising a second source of motive power engageable, on the occurrence of a second command signal, with said smallest diameter section for driving said smallest diameter section inwardly, and means on each of said sections for engaging a succeeding section to successively drive said sections inwardly into their retracted position.

10. In an automatically retractable and extendi'ble antenna having a plurality of tubular telescoping antenna sections, the combination comprising:

a first dischargeable motive source coupled to said sections;

means for abruptly discharging said motive source for outwardly propelling said sections from a retracted position toward an extended position;

means for successively restraining each of said sections in said extended position;

a second dischargeable motive source coupled to said sections; means for abruptly discharging said second motive source for driving said sections toward said retracted position and for recharging said first source;

mean for restraining said recharged first source;

said second dischargeable source comprising a wound spiral spring, the inner end of which is connected to a shaft, the outer end of which is connected to a concentric cylinder;

a reel;

a line connected between said reel and said sections;

a clutch coupling said cylinder and said reel upon occurrence of a command for rotation of said reel in one direction;

mean for restraining rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction;

and releasable means for .releasably restraining rotation of said cylinder in said one direction, said releasable means being released upon the occurrence of said command.

11. In an automatically retractable and extendible antenna having a plurality of tubular telescoping antenna sections, the combination comprising:

a first dischargeable motive source coupled to said sections;

means for abruptly discharging said motive source for outwardly propelling said sections from a retracted position toward an extended position;

means for successively restraining each of said sections in said extended position;

a second dischargeable motive source coupled to said sections;

mean for abruptly discharging said second motive source for driving said sections toward said retracted position and for recharging said first source;

means for restraining said recharged first source;

said second dischargeable source comprising a wound spiral spring, the inner end of which is connected to a shaft, the outer end of which is connected to a concentric cylinder;

a reel;

a line connected between said reel and said sections;

a clutch coupling said cylinder and said reel upon 0ccurrence of a command for rotation of said reel in one direction;

means for restraining rotation of said shaft in the opposite direction;

and releasable means for releasably restraining rotation of said cylinder in said one direction, said releasable means being released upon the occurrence of said command.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,391,202 12/1945 Tellander 189-26 2,866,198 12/1958 Kirby et a1. 343-901 2,913,073 11/1959 Wendling 189-126 3,101,134 8/1963 Winkelmann 343901 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,036,946 2/ 1958 Germany.

HERMAN KARL SAALBACH, Primary Examiner.

C. BARAFF, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A VEHICULAR RADIO ANTENNA, THE COMBINATION OF: A BASE; A FIRST TUBULAR SECTION RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID BASE; A PLURALITY OF TUBULAR SECTIONS OF SUCCESSIVELY SMALLER DIAMETERS NESTED WITHIN SAID FIRST TUBULAR SECTION AND AXIALLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT THERETO; A FIRST SOURCE OF MOTIVE POWER FOR PROPELLING ALL OF SAID MOVABLE SECTIONS UPWARDLY; MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING THE LOWER END OF EACH MOVABLE SECTION WITH THE UPPER END OF THE SECTION OF NEXT LARGER DIAMETER WHEN THE SECTIONS ARE PROPELLED UPWARDLY; AND A SECOND SOURCE OF MOTIVE POWER FOR DISENGAGING THE MATED ENDS OF SAID SECTIONS AND PROPELLING SAID MOVABLE SECTIONS DOWNWARDLY. 